seoi2 leoi4水雷

Jyutpingseoi2 leoi4

Yaleséui lèuih

名詞

Definition

Naval mine; an explosive weapon placed in water that detonates upon contact or proximity with ships.

colloquialother

How it's used

Beyond the literal sense of a naval mine, this term is frequently used metaphorically in Hong Kong to describe a hidden trap or a disastrous mistake. If someone says they stepped on a water mine, they usually mean they have inadvertently gotten involved in a messy situation or made a blunder that caused immediate trouble.

Measure word

nap1粒nāp

Examples

nei1呢dou6度hoi2海wik6域ji5以cin4前maai4埋zo2咗hou2好do1多seoi2水leoi4雷。

Many naval mines were buried in these waters before.

go2嗰gaa3架syun4船hai6係mai6咪m4唔siu2小sam1心zong6撞dou3*2到seoi2水leoi4雷aa4呀？

Did that ship accidentally hit a naval mine?

Common phrases

zuk1觸faat3發seoi2水leoi4雷

trigger a naval mine

cing1清ceoi4除seoi2水leoi4雷

clear naval mines

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the slang term 地雷, which is also used metaphorically for traps or bad choices but refers specifically to land mines in its literal sense. While both are used to describe hidden dangers, 水雷 is specifically associated with maritime contexts or larger, more explosive social blunders.